Lava Jato Investigates Corruption Crimes Causing R$6 Billion Losses
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The 64th stage of Operation Lava Jato, named Pentiti, was triggered in the early hours of Friday morning, August 23rd, by the Federal Police (PF) to investigate crimes related to off-book funds found in a spreadsheet titled “Programa Especial Italiano” (Italian Special Program), managed by Odebrecht, a large national contractor.
The crimes under investigation are money laundering, criminal organization, and active and passive corruption. The illegal actions are likely to have affected the public coffers by at least US$1.5 billion, the equivalent to approximately R$6 billion today.
According to the PF, the investigations also seek to clarify the existence of corruption involving national financial institutions and state-owned oil companies in the exploration of pre-salt reserves and in projects to divest assets on the African continent.
Approximately eighty federal police officers are serving twelve search and seizure warrants at addresses in the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The 13th Federal Court of Curitiba has granted the precautionary measures.
“The investigation is complex and deals with facts covered in various police inquiries, prompted by a ratified plea bargaining agreement signed between the police and a former government minister under investigation [Antonio Palocci], in addition to identifying beneficiaries of the Italian Special Program spreadsheet and the modus operandi of illegal cash transfers to authorities,” says the notice
According to the department, the name Pentiti means “repentant”. It refers to a term used in Italy to designate people who were part of criminal organizations and, after their arrests, began to cooperate with authorities to expedite investigations.
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